Butheina Kuku, whose car was graffitied with racial slurs in broad daylight, was elated with Maitland City Council’s decision to support the Australian Human Rights Commission’s anti-racism campaign – Racism. It stops with me.

“It’s really good, I feel good about it,” Mrs Kuku said at last night’s council meeting. 

Mrs Kuku, who fled civil war in Sudan with her children, said since the attack people had stopped her in the street and apologised for the disgraceful acts against her family, even offering their phone numbers if she needed their assistance. 

Cr Henry Meskauskas was quick to second the motion of support put forward by Cr Loretta Baker. 

“I wish this policy was in place in the 1950s and ‘60s,” Cr Meskauskas said. 

He said racism was “open slather” back then and he and his family were the subject of taunts and name calling. 

“It leaves a lot of scars and leaves a lot of people uncomfortable,” Cr Meskauskas told the meeting.

“Racism should never be tolerated, they [people who commit acts of racism] should be put in jail as far as I’m concerned.”

Mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore, told Mrs Kuku he was horrified at the treatment of her family and she had council’s full support. 

As a result of the decision Maitland City Council’s logo will now appear on the Human Rights Commission website.